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UK's Smallest Baby Weighed Just 350g, The Same As A Can Of Coke

UK's Smallest Baby Weighed Just 350g, The Same As A Can Of Coke

The teeny baby has now been allowed to go home after spending weeks in hospital

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Britain's smallest ever baby boy has overcome the odds and has been discharged from hospital.

Adorable little Theo Taylor was born in June weighing just 350g, the same as a standard can of fizzy drink, and doctors warned his parents to prepare for the worst.

Theo's mum Katie Rhodes, 24, was told he had stopped growing in the womb and he was born at 26 weeks and five days, with doctors thinking he is the smallest baby boy ever to be born in the UK and survive.

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Now six months old, Theo has left hospital and is home with mum Katie and dad Jay, 27.

Katie said: "He's a little fighter. Before he was born, it was really hard hearing all the time that he wasn't going to make it, and even when he was born that we might not get to take him home.

"But we got through it by saying, 'no, he's made it this far, lets just support him'.

"We were so positive and kept saying that we would fight for him."

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Theo's parents say the pregnancy progressed as normal, but at their 19-week scan they were told he was smaller than expected and given the devastating news that the baby had stopped growing and were told to 'expect the worst'.

Katie was then hopsitalised with pre-eclampsia and three days later doctors carried out an emergency caesarian section after they found fluid around Theo's heart.

Jay said: "They were all really good and helpful and said they would do anything they could to help him, but right up until the day before he was born, we were offered an abortion."

Doctors told the parents that the baby would weigh around 450g, but when he arrived he was even smaller.

"I had never ever seen a baby that small," Jay said. "I didn't know babies could be that small.

"I kept saying to Katie that everything would be OK and he would be fine, but it wasn't until I saw him that I realised how serious things were.

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"I think that was the most scared I have ever been, but it was also a relief to see him."

Even once he was here the parents were warned by doctors that due to his small size the baby might not survive and it was two weeks before they got a chance to hold him.

Fortunately, little Theo has defined all odds and now Katie and Jay have brought him home.

Jay said: "He was smaller than my hand and much smaller than they even thought he would be, but doctors said he didn't have any of the usual complications premature babies have.

"The doctor said he was about the weight of a can of Coke, but even when I picked up a can, it felt heavier than Theo.

"On the day he was born one doctor said, 'don't take for granted that you will be able to take him home'.

"But he is proving everyone wrong.

"The doctors that first looked after him came in over the weeks to see him and couldn't believe how well he was doing."

Doctors have since said they don't think Theo will suffer any problems in the future due to being premature.

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Katie said: "It's much easier with him home now than in hospital. It feels like he has been with us for much longer than six months.

"It's weird to think that he was the smallest baby ever as he is so much bigger than he was and is doing so well now."

The chances for a baby boy born weighing 400g is around 25 percent and surviving without moderate to severe brain damage is only around seven percent.

Theo's family is now raising money for Tiny Lives, a charity that helps to care for premature babies and their families at Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary.

You can donate here.

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: UK News, Inspirational